Qld bikie lawyer to mount court challenge

A lawyer says he will mount a High
Court challenge to Queensland's new bikie laws as
soon as possible.

Peter Shields acts for unnamed
members of several motorcycle gangs that have been
deemed criminal organisations under the new laws.

He's told ABC radio he will mount a
High Court challenge "as soon as we can".

Mr Shields also refuted any
suggestion the laws were pushing bikies out of
Queensland.

"Not one of my clients has left
the state," he said, adding they were doing their
best to comply with the new laws.

But he said the laws had been so
poorly crafted that was almost impossible.

Mr Shields said they failed to
spell out what bikies could do to be considered to
have quit declared criminal gangs.

"What we've been doing is sending
colours back to the national executive," he said.

But lawyers were dealing with an
information vacuum.

"Someone from the government, who
is responsible for this legislation, needs to put in
writing what it is a bikie must do so they're no
longer considered a bikie."

Meanwhile, the Australian
Motorcycle Council will on Monday launch a national
fighting fund to raise money to assist any High
Court challenge.

"In short, we believe these laws
are in fact partly intended as an attack on
motorcycling as a pastime, despite comments to the
contrary from the Queensland government," council
chairman Shaun Lennard said in a statement.

"The AMC is a volunteer-run
organisation with limited resources and this
decision has not been taken lightly.

"However, as the peak rider
organisation in the country, we have decided to
establish this account in response to numerous
requests for a place to donate funds."